Duke vs. Arizona prediction: College basketball picks, odds, best bets Friday
On Friday night, the No.12 Duke Blue Devils will make the long flight from the East Coast to the Southwest for a date with the No.
17 Arizona Wildcats.This matchup marks another opportunity for the country to get a good look at Cooper Flagg, the likely top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.Thus far, Flagg has led the Blue Devils in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game.Can the Blue Devils grab their first ranked win of the season after failing to hold off Kentucky or will the Wildcats bounce back at home after a road loss to Wisconsin?(10:30 p.m.ET, ESPN)Flagg’s transition from high school to college basketball has been virtually seamless, as he has already established himself as one of the best players in the sport.At 6-foot-9, Flagg can play and defend multiple positions, giving him the versatility to fit into any role at the next level.Duke’s offensive talent doesn’t end with Flagg, though, as it has other future pros, such as junior guard Tyrese Proctor, freshman center Khaman Maluach and freshman wing Kon Knueppel. Even with a loss, the Blue Devils still rank fourth in adjusted efficiency margin (KenPom) and second in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Blue Devils are frightening.
They lost by five points to Kentucky despite shooting a putrid 4-for-24 from 3-point land and a few critical late-game Flagg turnovers.It’s further proof that this team is a legitimate title contender come March.Meanwhile, the Wildcats continue to be among the country’s fastest and most efficient teams, ranking fourth in adjusted tempo and 14th in adjusted offensive efficiency.Their trio of returning guards, including Jaden Bradley, Caleb Love and KJ Lewis, can apply pressure in transition as well as any unit in college basketball, as evidenced by the team’s 94.3-point-per-game average.Unsurprisingly, Arizona is again one of the best rebounding teams, ranking first in offensive rebounding percentage and total rebounding rate.Still, I have the Blue Devils narro...